Before Disney made “Beauty and the Beast” into a movie, it was originally a novel by Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve in 1740, according to Screenrant. “Beauty and the Beast” is about a prince who is under a curse which can only be broken with true love. The auditions are from Jan. 16 to Jan. 18. The performances will be on April 26, April 27, May 3, and May 4, taking place in the multipurpose room on the elementary side of the school. The music is by Alan Menken, lyrics are by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and the book is by Linda Woolverton. To learn more about these auditions, the Horizon Sun interviewed two members of the Horizon Honors drama program.

(Editor’s note: responses edited for clarity.)

The Horizon Sun: Why did you return to the Horizon Honors theater?

Connor Johnson (Junior): First of all, I am returning to Horizon Honors theater for two main reasons; mostly, I just love the environment, and it’s an incredibly fun place to hang out and make friends. I’m never bored during a rehearsal, and I’ve made countless memories with my friends in theater through improv, performances, rehearsals, and more. I also just enjoy performing and being in the shows, and I’ve been participating in them since I was in seventh grade.

Kennedy O’Nan (Sophomore): I returned to Horizon Honors theater because the community is such a fun place to be, and I have been able to grow a lot thanks to Mr. Garrett and Mrs. Wood!

The Sun: Why are you auditioning?

Johnson: This quarter, I’m auditioning for “Beauty and the Beast.” It’s a fantastic musical and will be one of the larger shows we’ve performed in terms of its scale. I’m excited to see how we pull it off. Just like when we performed “The Wizard of Oz,” it’s nice to perform a “classic” show like this. 

O’Nan: I am auditioning for “Beauty and the Beast” because it is one of my favorite Disney movies, but also one of my favorite performances. I love all the dance numbers and the variety of parts. 

The Sun: What convinced you to participate?

Johnson: It didn’t take much convincing for me to audition, but my friends are all very supportive, and I’ve been practicing to prepare myself for the audition. Plus, the audition environment is great, and I think Mr. Garrett and Mrs. Wood, our co-directors, do a great job of making sure it is welcoming and non-intimidating.

O’Nan: My family originally convinced me to audition last year for “The Crucible,” and after that, my love for performing grew, and I could not imagine not taking up the opportunity to join!

The Horizon Sun is excited to see how Horizon Honors puts on this amazing production.